Pakistan calls for Israel's accountability for Iran war after army chief's meeting with US president
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's foreign office on Thursday called on the international community to end Israel's ongoing war against Iran, condemning Tel Aviv for launching an 'unjustified and illegitimate' attack and demanding its accountability.
The statement came hours after Pakistan's army chief, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, attended a luncheon at the White House hosted by US President Donald Trump, a rare engagement that lasted longer than scheduled.
Trump, who has publicly backed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and stated Iran will not be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons, confirmed that the Israel-Iran conflict was discussed during his meeting with Munir.
While he did not share further details, Pakistan has maintained its longstanding position that Israel's war with Iran threatens to destabilize the region.
'Pakistan strongly condemns unjustified and illegitimate aggression by Israel against the Islamic Republic of Iran,' foreign office spokesperson Ambassador Shafqat Ali Khan said at the outset of his weekly press briefing.
'Pakistan stands in resolute solidarity with the people of Iran and unequivocally denounces these blatant provocations, which constitute a grave danger and a serious threat to the peace, security, and stability of the entire region and beyond, with serious implications,' he added. 'The international community and the United Nations bear the responsibility to uphold international law, stop this aggression immediately and hold the aggressor accountable for its actions.'
Khan pointed to a joint statement released earlier this week by 20 countries, including Pakistan, calling for an immediate halt to hostilities in the Middle East and urging de-escalation.
The statement underscored the urgent need to establish 'a Middle East Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction,' applying to all states in the region without exception.
It further called on all Middle Eastern countries to join the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
Asked whether the United States sought any 'special favor' from Pakistan during the army chief's meeting with Trump, Khan said both nations share 'strong and multifaceted relations' with 'a full agenda of interaction and cooperation.'
'So, I don't know how to characterize or define a special favor,' he remarked.
The spokesperson reiterated that Pakistan has consistently advocated for diplomatic solutions to international conflicts and would support any meaningful initiative in that direction.
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